As an employer, you must protect your workers from the health risks of working with display screen equipment (DSE), such as PCs, laptops, tablets and smartphones.
The Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations apply to workers who use DSE daily, for continuous periods of an hour or more. We describe these workers as ‘DSE users’. The regulations don’t apply to workers who use DSE infrequently or only use it for a short time.
How to protect worker’s health
By law, employers must:
do a DSE workstation assessment
reduce risks, including making sure workers take breaks from DSE work or do something different
provide an eye test if a worker asks for one
provide training and information for workers
Incorrect use of DSE or poorly designed workstations or work environments can lead to pain in necks, shoulders, backs, arms, wrists and hands as well as fatigue and eye strain. The causes may not always be obvious.
The law applies if users are, for example:
at a fixed workstation
mobile workers
homeworkers
hot-desking (workers should carry out a basic risk assessment if they change desks regularly)
Workstations and Assessment
If workers use display screen equipment (DSE) daily, as part of their normal work, continuously for an hour or more, employers must do a workstation assessment.
Employers should look at:
the whole workstation, including equipment, furniture, and work conditions
the job being done
any special requirements of a member of staff, for example a user with a disability
Where there are risks, they should take steps to reduce them.
Employers must also do an assessment when:
a new workstation is setup
a new user starts work
a change is made to an existing workstation or the way it’s used
users complain of pain or discomfort
Use this DSE workstation checklist to help make an assessment.
DSE Assessment Software
Software packages can help train users and help them take part in assessments. But the software is not an assessment on its own.
You should always make sure a trained assessor looks at user assessment results (whether these are software or paper based). The assessor should clear up any doubtful points, provide feedback to users and make sure problems are put right, for example by changes to the DSE or workstation.
Work Routine and Breaks
The law says employers must plan work so there are breaks or changes of activity for employees who are display screen equipment (DSE) users.
There is no legal guidance about how long and how often breaks should be for DSE work. It depends on the kind of work you are doing. Take short breaks often, rather than longer ones less often. For example 5 to 10 minutes every hour is better than 20 minutes every 2 hours. Ideally, users should be able to choose when to take breaks.
In most jobs it is possible to stop DSE work to do other tasks, such as going to meetings or making phone calls. If there are no natural changes of activity in a job, employers should plan rest breaks.
Breaks or changes of activity should allow users to get up from their workstations and move around, or at least stretch and change posture.
Break-monitoring software
Break-monitoring software can remind users to take regular breaks. But employers are still responsible for making sure work activities are properly planned and that users take suitable breaks
Eyes and Eyesight Testing
The law says employers must arrange an eye test for display screen equipment (DSE) users if they ask for one, and provide glasses if an employee needs them only for DSE use.
DSE work does not cause permanent damage to eyes. But long spells of DSE work can lead to:
tired eyes
discomfort
temporary short-sightedness
headaches
DSE work is visually demanding, so it can make someone aware of eyesight problems they have not noticed before (including changes in eyesight that happen with age).
Employees can help their eyes by:
checking the screen is well positioned and properly adjusted
making sure lighting conditions are suitable
taking regular breaks from screen work
Employers must assess DSE workstations and take steps to reduce any health risks.
Eye tests for DSE users
An employer must provide an eyesight test for a DSE user if they request one. The employer must also pay for the test.
This should be a full eye and eyesight test by an optometrist or doctor, including a vision test and an eye examination.
It’s up to the employer how they provide the test. For example, they could let users arrange the tests and reimburse them for the cost later, or they could send all their DSE users to one optician.
Glasses for DSE work
Employers only have to pay for glasses for DSE work if the test shows an employee needs special glasses prescribed for the distance the screen is viewed at. If an ordinary prescription is suitable, employers do not have to pay for glasses.
Training and Information
Employers must provide health and safety training and information for display screen equipment (DSE) users. Training should be about the risks in DSE work and how to avoid these by safe working practices. It should include:
good posture
adjusting chairs and other furniture
arranging desk space
adjusting screens and lighting to avoid reflections and glare
breaks and changes of activity
risk assessments
how to report problems
Employers should also tell users about the general arrangements they have made for health and safety in their DSE work, and how they can apply for an eye test.
Also consider explaining how to use the DSE workstation checklist if users are going to make their own assessment.
Working with Display Screen Equipment at Home
The Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations can apply to workers who:
work at home on a permanent or long-term basis
routinely split their time between their workplace and home (sometimes called hybrid working)
Your workers are display screen equipment (DSE) users if they work on DSE daily, for continuous periods of an hour or more. You should check if the DSE
regulations apply to your workers.
The regulations don’t apply to workers who use DSE occasionally or only for short periods of time at home.
DSE risk assessment
Where the regulations do apply, you should carry out a DSE assessment for individual workers. In most cases you do not need to visit them to carry out the assessment, unless you decide there is a need to do so. Your workers may complete a self-assessment provided they have been given suitable training, for example by explaining how to use an ergonomic checklist or self-assessment tool.
There is a practical DSE workstation checklist that may help you to make a simple DSE assessment and record and communicate the findings.
Where workers use DSE in the home and office, the assessment should cover both situations.
Make sure those working at home can achieve a comfortable, sustainable posture. They may not need office furniture or equipment at home to achieve this. But you should check if their own equipment is suitable.
Managing the risks
Make sure that you can implement the findings of your assessments for your workers using DSE at home.
Reduce the risks identified by your assessment so far as reasonably practicable. This means balancing the level of risk against the measures needed to control the real risk in terms of money, time or trouble.
Keep your DSE arrangements under review, particularly if there have been significant changes.
Check if your existing control measures are sufficient or whether additional steps are needed, for example where your workers report aches, pains or discomfort.
Additional DSE equipment needs
Use your assessment to decide if people need any additional equipment when working at home.
Alongside information provided by the worker, you may need to ask for competent advice. For example, from:
a suitably trained DSE assessor
suitable occupational health professional
You should meet additional individual needs so far as reasonably practicable.
DSE information and training
You must provide workers with training in the use of their workstation and DSE equipment. This should include advice on achieving good posture, and on good working practices.
Work routine and breaks
The law says employers must plan work so there are breaks or changes of activity for workers.
Good posture when using display screen equipment
This very useful video gives basic advice on how to maintain good posture.
Should you require any further information, clarification or assistance please contact us on info@wpsafety.co.uk or 01268 649006.